It was in all likelihood the only college presidential inauguration in history with a recessional composed by Led Zeppelin.
Management professor, college administrator, leadership scholar and rock music afficionado Charles F. “Chuck” Seifert, Ph.D. was formally installed as the 13th president of Siena College in a September 21 ceremony held in the UHY Center.
With the theme “Leading the Way Together: A Call to Serve,” the inauguration featured Siena students, faculty, staff and trustees; Franciscan friars of the Holy Name Province; delegates from colleges and universities across the U.S.; elected officials; and Siena alumni.
Student Senate President Luke Keith ’24 shared how welcoming Seifert has been to him and fellow student leaders.
“Empathy, listening and vision are characteristics that we attribute to servant leadership,” Keith said. “At Siena, we learn a lot about servant leadership and how it can impact the community. It is a blessing for our institution to have a true servant leader as its president. As a student leader myself, Dr. Seifert is a role model on how to live out our Franciscan values.”
On behalf of Siena’s faculty, administrators and staff, Seifert, a skilled fly fisherman, was presented with a framed set of nine custom-made green and gold flies sporting Siena-inspired monikers such as “Buzzer Beater,” “Seven Friars” and “Saints Go Marching.”
“Today, we are here – not as representatives of the faculty, staff, and administration – but as three members of the Siena community – to offer our support as you begin your presidency, and to say thank you for Leading the Way,” said Sarah Berke, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and chair of the faculty committee.
After James C. Hunter was presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters, Seifert accepted the mace, charter and medallion that mark the office of college president. He began his inaugural address by thanking family, friends and colleagues who traveled to campus for the ceremony.
“I am truly blessed to serve an organization I love so much,” he said. “We are the best organization I have ever had the chance to work for or with. I know that I’m a better person and leader because this community accepted me 27 years ago.”
Seifert proudly noted Siena’s exceptional rankings: the new top 100 college accolade from the Wall Street Journal; number one college in New York for getting a job after graduation; and a spot on the College Consensus national listing of top 10 Catholic colleges.
“These rankings didn’t just happen. Every community member worked incredibly hard to make sure we are meeting our mission and enhancing the student experience both inside and outside the classroom. Also, we didn’t focus on outcomes and rankings; we focused on the student experience that resulted in our exceptional outcomes and rankings.”
Looking toward the future, Seifert predicted continued high demand and national recognition “for our dynamic and extraordinary student experience.” Always striving to do better and be better, Siena will continue with “incremental improvements that over time will have a transformational impact.”
“We need to cement our culture of excellence. With this culture, everyone is rowing in the same direction and at the same speed. A high-trust environment is developed where everyone is focused on the success of all community members, and all community members are accountable for delivering excellence.”
Inspired by a quote from famed football coach Vince Lombardi, Seifert concluded, “Join me in the chase for perfection, and with the blessed community of Siena Saints, let’s catch excellence together.”
As the brass quintet belted out Zeppelin’s classic “Kashmir,” the ceremony concluded and the assembled Saints processed out into the late summer sunshine to begin the next chapter in the Siena story.